Spied: BMW's upmarket 1-series twins

We’ve got another three months before BMW finally launches the 1-series coupé at the Frankfurt motor show in September. These spy shots are the clearest yet of the two-door notchback, designed to expand the appeal of the 1-series range when it launches in the USA next year.The disguise around the rear is hiding 3-series coupe-style lights, and under the covers the bootlid is curved, not flat. At the front there are M3-style air intakes in the bumper and heavily flared wheelarches.

What about an M1?

Speculation has been rife that BMW is working on an M-Division version of the 1-series coupe, and Autocar's sources recently confirmed that a proper, M-badged 1-series is in the pipeline for not-long-after the standard car's launch.The engine it'll run is still unknown. Opinion is currently split between a 300bhp six-cylinder engine and a lighter, fast-revving four-pot like that of the original E30 M3. However, Autocar's sources now suggest that the latter might be the more likely bet. 1-series coupes have recently been seen lapping the Nordschleife at very high speeds, but, according to one source, with engines that sound "more like four-pots than inline sixes."

Want to see the new 1-series coupe and cabriolet in action at the 'Ring? Then watch our exclusive spy video